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Road Trip: Day 7 – Sleepover in Thermopolis, WY

As you can tell by now, every day of the OMSH Road Trip won’t be blogged; there are some long drives between each of our destinations after all. While I could have filled space with extensive lists of all the clean and not-so-clean rest stops and gas stations we encountered along the way, I figure there’s an app for that, right?

I took photo after photo as we rolled through Wyoming. Coming from the hilly edge of the Piney Woods of Texas, this type of vista is nothing short of eye candy.

We learned that the construction of U.S. Highway 20 through Wind River Canyon eventually came after the construction of the railroad through the same canyon. The railroad apparently was the catalyst for the settlement and development of the Bighorn Basin.

We don’t have mountains in our neck of the woods, so obviously we don’t get to experience driving THROUGH a mountain. For the record, it was such a cool thing to say, “Kids LOOK! We’re about to drive THROUGH a mountain.”

For a minute there I felt sort of like a superhero.

And then, after driving through the mountain, I watched the sun begin to set on the spectacular canyon walls that tower more than 3,000 feet above the river bed and all my feelings of superhero-ness dissipated.

At that moment I felt very small and somewhat inconsequential, but in a good way. In a way that made me feel bound to both past and present…a silent part of a very big “whole”.

And that was just the beginning…

I shot photo after photo.
How could I not?
I wanted to preserve these memories in more than just my mind’s eye.

However, the night we arrived in Thermopolis, when I looked back over the day’s photos, I knew none of them were going to do justice to this trip, these experiences, and the beauty of this country.

About ten or so miles from Thermopolis we passed Chimney Rock, a unique outcropping from the canyon walls.

The route between Shoshoni and Thermopolis, Wyoming is designated a Scenic Highway; it certainly has a rugged beauty all its own.

If you live there, and you drive this regularly, you are so very blessed.

Winding our way out of the canyon, the terrain changes significantly and there lies the city of Thermopolis.

Thermopolis is located near the Northern end of the Wind River Canyon and an area called the “Wedding of the Waters” — where the north-flowing Wind River becomes the Bighorn River. The town itself is ringed by mountains; the Bridger Mountains are on the southeast, the Owl Creek Mountains are on the southwest, the Bighorn Mountains are to the east and finally, to the west is the southern Absaroka Range.

Here is where I have to stop and say there simply isn’t enough time or budget to do, and see, everything we would like to do and see on this road trip. Still, we want to say THANK YOU for all the emails, Facebook messages, as well as Flickr comments, suggesting places to go, eat, see, and experience. Our trip is 18 days – and we are covering a LOT of ground. While we know each state could definitely use its own separate vacation, we feel fortunate for the opportunity to wrap-up this homeschool year by exposing our children to such a great variety of experiences and geography.

Our reservations were at The Plaza Hotel. Because of the architecture, lay-out and how the hotel’s rooms center around a hot spring, Jeff and I thought perhaps it was previously a hospital. We were fortunate to get the history of the place from user gebodogs on Flickr.

gebodogs wrote:

“It was actually a hotel built to provide the sick and ailing with access to healing waters. Thermopolis (Greek meaning “Hot City”) sprang to life with tourist activity when a series of hotels were constructed in the new state park…The two story brick structure originally housed 70 rentable rooms, divided into 14 sections, each hall containing a common bathing room at the end of each corridor…Ownership has changed many times, but the business at hand has always been to provide guests of the Plaza access to the mineral baths.”

The mineral baths could probably do a lot for the sick and ailing, but maybe not so much for 14 year olds who look somewhat similar to an elf…putting on chapstick.

If you can take your eyes off the car-crazy children under the sign for a moment, you’ll notice there is NO ONE around. It was like a ghost town when we pulled up to Pumpernicks in downtown Thermopolis.

Once seated and perusing through menu selections like “Asparagus Crepe” and “Avocado, Bacon and Cheese Burger”, we learned everyone in the city was at the local high school play.

Ain’t small town life grand?

Thermopolis is one of those quaint towns where you want to stay, get to know the locals, and drink in the little oddities you don’t see elsewhere.

There was also a church with a large banner that said, “OPEN SUNDAYS”
Convenient, yes?
Small towns are so accommodating.

The Hot Springs State Park attracts a good deal of tourism to Thermopolis. So, in addition to the natural hot springs, the state maintains a herd of bison within the Park, just northwest of town.

This guy was less than 1/2 mile from our hotel.

A sign warned us that bison were unpredictable, so…we stayed in the car to capture our photos.

As it grew darker, we walked around some of the hot springs in the park. We explained to the kids that a hot spring is produced by geothermally heated groundwater emerging from the earth’s crust.

Even without much light it was easy to find our way – we just followed the rotten egg smell.

The kids were bummed that the two hot mineral water concessions, the Teepee Pools and Star Plunge, were not open for use this time of year (we were there early in the season).

However, they found ways to entertain themselves around the hot springs.

I have heard enough horror stories about family road trips that I will admit to being somewhat nervous about ours. I was fully prepared for the kids to get on each others’ nerves, and scream ridiculous accusations at each other like, “You’re breathing my air! STOP BREATHING MY AIR!”

But?

After just over 1800 miles it hasn’t happened…yet.

Instead, there have been a number of precious moments; some of which I’ve been fortunate enough to capture.

As an only child I do not know this special relationship – what it truly means to have a sister.

Still, I get to enjoy it indirectly through these two.

After walking the decks around the hot springs, the girls headed toward Jeff and Kenny, who were hanging out on the swinging bridge that spans across the Bighorn River.

I tried to capture that particular shot from one side of the bridge’s entrance, but the dark swallowed any hope of a good photo, so for the record, WE WERE SOOOO THERE.

Back at The Plaza Hotel we settled in for the night for an early wake-up.

It is surprising that, for a town as small as Thermopolis, we did not even come close to doing all that it has to offer. For instance, we didn’t get to visit the State Bath House, which has been available for public use since 1896 and is one of the largest mineral hot springs in the world.

We also did not get to see Big Spring in the daylight, but read that the turquoise and green mineral laden spring issues 3.6 million gallons of water per day at a scorching temperature of 127 degrees. Apparently, the water from Big Spring contains no less than 27 different minerals, making some believe it is very healthy to drink.

The reason we planned an overnight stop in Thermopolis was to break up our drive from Manitou Springs, CO to Cody, WY, where we intended to camp-out for three days while seeing Yellowstone. This little town in the Bighorn Basin ended up being a pleasant, if not slightly “odorific” surprise.

From mineral hot springs in Thermopolis, WY to an avalanche at the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, our adventure isn’t even halfway over! See y’all Friday with more!

About the Author: A faith blogger and homeschooling parent, Heather Sanders is recognized for coining the term faithsizing to define her journey to find peace and contentment through Christ while embracing a simpler lifestyle.Visit her blog or follower her on Instagram.

Heather Sanders

Hi. I’m Heather, a freelance writer living in Huntsville, a smallish town on the tail-end of the East Texas Pineywoods.
Twenty years ago, I married Jeff, the love of my life, and shortly after, we chose to “go forth and multiply.” We have three kids: Emelie, Meredith and Kenny. We homeschool. It's what we do, and it works for us.
Tired of feeling overwhelmed, we recently "faithsized" our family into a 960 square foot lake cabin in need of renovation. I write at HeatherSanders.com about faith and simplifying your desires so you can be content right here and right now

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http://www.iliveinanantbed.blogspot.com I Live in an Antbed

And a wonderful time was had by all! When children are raised to honor each other and their parents, so much of the “drama” is avoided. Good job, you two, for training the character of your children, not just their minds.🙂

http://airstreamingdreaming.blogspot.com/ Nicki

Gorgeous…. it’s simply gorgeous there! I am sincerely enjoying the preview of our trip. Not to mention the extra ideas you are giving me.

As for that egg smell, my sister lived in a house for about 12 years and her well water had that smell. When I visited I had to put a pitcher of water in the fridge over night just to brush my teeth! Showers would leave you gagging!

Susan

Looks like not EVERYONE was at the high school play as the mule deer were at Family Dollar. As far as the buffalo… be glad they were 1/2 mile from the hotel, if you were at Yellowstore they would be IN the hotel parking lot. And yes those aniamals are dangerous. I just love the area you are traveling….. continue to enjoy.

Theresa in Alberta

I lived in a small town for 4 1/2 years, I miss it!! But that wild life, right in town wow…Imagine going over or around those mountains in a wagon like the pioneers. Here in Alberta we have Elk Island park that provide Buffalo/Bison to parks all over North America. every year you hear of some fool who tried to tangle with them.

http://twenty-firstcenturyhousewife.blogspot.com/ Liz in Virginia

Wow! I love the photo of your three kids overlooking the spring in the misty dusk. Gorgeous.

Have you heard the joke about the Texan? . . . who bragged to his Rocky Mountain friend that “Texas is where God takes His vacations.” And the friend from the Rockies showed the Texan the view from his picture window, and said, “Yes, but Wyoming is where He works.”

Great, great posts!

Skuba

I’ve never been to the Wind River Range but after seeing the area featured on a movie, we looked it up. Now everytime life is less than peaches and cream shall we say, my husband and I say “Well ya ready to move to Wind River?”

Meredi Fay

Oh, I grew up there – well, 20 miles north of there on a ranch. You got some great pictures.

Cathy P.

What a great vacation you are having! Thank you for sharing it with us. Please send the “Open Sundays” picture to Jay Leno, for his “Headlines” segment. That is hysterical!

Beefgal

You should head north on YNP to Bozeman,MT and check out the Museum Of The Rockies! It is the best dinosaur museum in the WORLD! Ok I’m a bit bias too because my mom discovered the T-Rex in front of the museum!🙂
Enjoy the rest of your trip!

http://www.sanderasisproper.blogspot.com Colleen

I’m really enjoying reading your posts. Each time I do, it gets me excited for my summer trip. One of the best things is finding the unexpected places along the way like you did here. Have fun in Cody! We’ve been there once and loved the Buffalo Bill historical center.

LisaL

Love your journey!!
I am not sure which direction you are heading, but I do hope you have your children experience (if they have not already) the magnificent Black Hills of South Dakota. Caves, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse – a bit of Americana!!

I love that your posting every few days, it adds to the adventure of reading. Love the pictures, once drove through a mountain in a blizzard, my husband has never recovered. Now our road trips consist of Texas, Texas, and more Texas!

Lola

I love that highway…it is so beautiful and amazing. We don’t have that in northern MN either. But we do have deer in parking lots…they are white tail deer. They are everywhere. What a great trip you are having!!!

Michelle M

Bummer you missed swimming in the springs. Star Plunge is actually open year round so maybe they were closed for the play as well. We love going up there in February. It’s very cool to be swimming in the warmth while it’s cold and snowy outside.

pk

Northern Exposure?.. I LOVED that show. I have introduced my daughter to it thanks to DVDs and she loves it too. Quirky, endearing characters, fun plots, great sets…

http://thesagebrushsea.wordpress.com Rachel | The Sagebrush Sea

Ah, I miss Thermopolis. Thank you for sharing!

Karen in Amarillo

Yes! LOVE Northern Exposure! Hello, Netflix….

This has been fun reading, watching, and being an armchair traveler with you. Thanks for letting us tag along on your family road trip.

http://www.ohmystinkinheck.com OMSH

Cathy P, that is a GREAT idea – thanks!

http://www.ohmystinkinheck.com OMSH

I have said on multiple occasions that Wyoming is a bit of Heaven – especially the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway … OH MY STINKIN’ HECK it is glorious!

Gail Parmentier

Oh Heather, I am sooooo enjoying living vicariously through you, your family & your trip! Thank you for sharing. It also kind of reminds me of a trip my mother & I took together. We traveled for 3 weeks from Spokane, Wa. to Columbus, OH up to Northern MI & then back again. I was about Emelie’s age when we did it, maybe a smidge older. It was a great trip. We had our 2 cats with us & when we were about where you are now, they kept us warm in our sleeping bags as we spent the night outside.🙂 Your children will remember this trip FOREVER!!!

Jane H in WI

I lived in Wyoming for 14 years before moving back home to Wisconsin. I have been SO homesick for Wyoming the past few weeks – these photos were great! I have driven this drive and seen these sights – thanks for helping diminish some of my homesickness!

CateS

Wyoming… my folks took the 3 of us girls camping for 2 weeks in the 1960’s every year. We visited Yellowstone, but camped at the Grand Teton National Park. Very memorable trip, bears alongside the road.. bears coming down into the roadside picnic area, trail ride ending in outdoor cookout, Dad scaring the bejesus out of us girls by hiding around the corner of the shower house & growling like a bear [he said he was only clearing his throat but I was back in the campsite on top of the picnic table in a flash!] I know you all will have such a great time & wonderful memories for the rest of your life!

http://mangiodasola.net/ Memoria

I absolutely love the photos of your two daughters bonding. I, too, am an only child on my mother’s side and was not raised around my half-brothers, so I don’t know how it is to have a bond with a sibling. Those two photos make me yearn for that experience. How lovely.

Meagan T

So neat you are in the area. Depending on what you selected for a route into Yellowstone you might want to amend your plans. Here is the link to the press release http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/11038.htm and the number to the road hotline 307-344-2117. Happy traveling!